Correct Interpretation of Chemical Diagrams Requires Transforming from One Level of Representation to Another |
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| Authors: | Gail Chittleborough and David Treagust |
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| Institution: | (1) Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia;(2) Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Volunteer non-major chemistry students taking an introductory university chemistry course (n = 17) were interviewed about their understanding of a variety of chemical diagrams. All the students’ interviewed appreciated
that diagrams of laboratory equipment were useful to show how to set up laboratory equipment. However students’ ability to
explain specific diagrams at either the macroscopic or sub-microscopic level varied greatly. The results highlighted the poor
level of understanding that some students had even after completing both exercises and experiments using the diagrams. The
connection between the diagrams of the macroscopic level (equipment, chemicals), the sub-microscopic level (molecular) and
the symbolic level (equations) was not always considered explicitly by students. The results indicate a need for chemical
diagrams to be used carefully and more explicitly to ensure learner understanding. Correspondingly, students need to interpret
visual chemical diagrams using meta-visualization skills linking the various levels of representation, and appreciating the
role of the diagrams in explanations need to be developed. |
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| Keywords: | Chemical diagrams Chemistry Representations Explanations Non-major First-year university |
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